Books in BOLD have significant people of color content
........................................ Call Number (author's last name)
Title & Summary
Year published
Death of an animal companion
JP Burleigh
Goodbye Sheepie
A young boy comes to terms with the death of his beloved sheepdog. (Ages: K-2)
2010
JP Demas
Saying goodbye to Lulu
A young girl traces the history of her dog, Lulu's life, recalling the happy times they spent together, as well as the changes Lulu undergoes as she becomes older. The girl's parents gently help her cope with the passing of her friend. (Ages: 3-6)
2004
JP Ehrlich
Maggie and Silky and Joe
Joe, a young boy who grows up under the protection and companionship of his family's cow dog, Maggie, and later with a stray puppy called Silky, must learn how to cope with loss when Maggie dies in a thunderstorm at the family farm.
(Ages: 4-8)
1994
JP Harris
Goodbye, Mousie
A boy grieves for his dead animal companion Mousie, helps to bury him, and begins to come to terms with his loss.
2001
JP Rylant
Dog heaven and Cat heaven
In these companion picture books, readers are re-assured that there is a God in heaven that looks after the dogs and the cats who go there after they die. There are caring angels, and plenty of food, shelter, warmth and love. Sometimes the dogs may wish to return to earth with an angel and take a walk around to remember things; sometimes cats look down from heaven to see the families they lived with and loved go about their lives. (Ages: 3-8)
1995 and 1997
JP Viorst
The tenth good thing about Barney
A young boy who loses his animal companion cat thinks of nine good things about Barney to remember him by, as his mother suggests. He and his friend Anne have different ideas about where Barney is - in heaven? Or in the ground? When he helps his father plant seeds in the ground outside, the boy discovers one more good thing about Barney. A classic, told in a straight forward yet compassionate manner. (Ages: 3-8)
Rudi's pond
A group of school children respond to the illness and death of the narrator's best friend, Rudi, by helping to build a pond in his memory. Based on a true story. (Ages: K-2)
1999
JP Fritts
If Nathan were here
In this gentle, poignant story a young boy finds ways to express his questions and sorrow after a close friend dies.
2000
JP Old
Stacy had a little sister
When Stacy's baby sister is a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, her parents are faced with explaining the tragedy to her. The story does a competent job of anticipating the fears and concerns of a young child and of providing comfort and reassurance. Particularly well presented are the themes of jealousy upon the infant's arrival and feelings of guilt in the aftermath of her death.
1995
J Par Coll Rosen
Michael Rosen's sad book
With honesty, a touch of humor, and sensitive illustrations by Quentin Blake, Michael Rosen explores the experience of sadness in a way that resonates with us all. What makes Michael Rosen sad is thinking about his son, Eddie, who died suddenly at the age of eighteen. In this book the author writes about his sadness, how it affects him, and some of the things he does to cope with it—like telling himself that everyone has sad stuff (not just him) and trying every day to do something he can be proud of. This is a very personal story that speaks to everyone, from children to parents to grandparents, teachers to grief counselors. (Ages: K-9)
Bye, Mis' Lela
At first, Sugar Plum cries when her mother leaves her with Mis' Lela, but the happy days they spend together make Sugar Plum want to remember her, even after she dies (Ages: 4-7)
1998
Marianne's grandmother
At home after her grandmother's funeral, Marianne fondly remembers the good times she shared with her grandmother. The story helps readers understand that though Marianne's grandmother dies, her love for her grandmother will always remain. (Ages: 5-8)
1986
JP Fraustino
The hickory chair
A boy who is blind tells of his warm relationship with his grandmother and the gift she left for him to find in her favorite chair. (Ages: 5-8)
2001
Sophie
In sparse, poetic words and striking paintings, the story follows Sophie as she grows bigger and bigger, and her grandfather gets smaller and smaller. Though her grandfather dies, Sophie continues to love him very much. (Ages: 5-8)
1994
JP Haynes
Grandma's gone to live in the stars
In the moments after Grandmother has passed away, her spirit is at peace as she says goodbye to her sleeping family and her home (Ages: 3-7)
2000
JP London
Liplap's wish
As little rabbit builds a snowbunny, Liplap feels something is missing and wishes his grandmother, who recently died, was with him. (Ages: 3-7)
1994
JP Luenn
A gift for Abuelita/Un regalo para Abuelita
After her beloved grandmother dies, Rosita hopes to be reunited with Abuelita as she prepares a gift to give her when her family celebrates the Day of the Dead. The story is told in both Spanish and English (Ages 5-9)
1998
JP Russo
Grandpa Abe
Grandpa Abe enters Sarah's life as her grandmother's boyfriend, becomes her grandfather by marriage, and enriches her life before leaving it. (Ages: 3-8)
1996
JP Thong
The wishing tree
At the wishing tree on Lunar New Year with his grandmother, Ming's wishes always seemed to come true, but one year the tree does not help, and he alone must make peace with the loss of his grandmother and the spirit of the tree. (Ages: 4-9)
Everett Anderson's goodbye
A simple, poetic telling of Everett Anderson's feelings as he copes with and accepts the fact of his father's death. Coretta Scott King Award. NCTE Teacher's Choice. Reading Rainbow selection.
(Ages: K-2)
1983
JP Lanton
Daddy's chair
Michael's dad has died and the family is observing Shiva. As the days go by Michael gradually begins to come to terms with his father's death. A useful book for the surviving parent to help a child come to terms with their loss.
(Ages: K-2)
1991
JP Schick
Mama
A small girl remembers the night her mother first told her that she was sick and all the days and nights that followed. The illustrations depict the relationships between the child and the adults in her life as they hug, comfort, or reassure her. The story is written in language and with familiar images that youngsters can understand; it neither evades nor minimizes the feelings that a child in this situation might have. (Ages: 4-8)
2000
JP Vigna
Saying goodbye to Daddy
With the help of her mother and grandfather, Clare begins to adjust to life without her father, who dies in a car accident on a rainy night. The story follows the family from the day of the father's death, to the service at church, Clare's father's burial at the cemetery, and the family's continuing grief. With love and tenderness from her mother and grandfather, Clare begins to understand that her feelings of grief, sadness, loneliness and fear will ease.
(Ages: 3-6)
Remembering Crystal
Crystal had lived in the garden for many years. She was growing old. Zelda was just starting out in life. They were best friends. But one day Crystal was not in the garden. In this gentle story, children learn, with Zelda, that true friendship is a gift that doesn't die.
Death and bereavement
:: Death of a parent :: Death of a friend
Books in BOLD have significant people of color content
Call Number
(author's last name)
Death of an animal companion
A young boy comes to terms with the death of his beloved sheepdog. (Ages: K-2)
A young girl traces the history of her dog, Lulu's life, recalling the happy times they spent together, as well as the changes Lulu undergoes as she becomes older. The girl's parents gently help her cope with the passing of her friend. (Ages: 3-6)
Joe, a young boy who grows up under the protection and companionship of his family's cow dog, Maggie, and later with a stray puppy called Silky, must learn how to cope with loss when Maggie dies in a thunderstorm at the family farm.
(Ages: 4-8)
A boy grieves for his dead animal companion Mousie, helps to bury him, and begins to come to terms with his loss.
In these companion picture books, readers are re-assured that there is a God in heaven that looks after the dogs and the cats who go there after they die. There are caring angels, and plenty of food, shelter, warmth and love. Sometimes the dogs may wish to return to earth with an angel and take a walk around to remember things; sometimes cats look down from heaven to see the families they lived with and loved go about their lives. (Ages: 3-8)
A young boy who loses his animal companion cat thinks of nine good things about Barney to remember him by, as his mother suggests. He and his friend Anne have different ideas about where Barney is - in heaven? Or in the ground? When he helps his father plant seeds in the ground outside, the boy discovers one more good thing about Barney. A classic, told in a straight forward yet compassionate manner. (Ages: 3-8)
Death of a child ^top
A group of school children respond to the illness and death of the narrator's best friend, Rudi, by helping to build a pond in his memory. Based on a true story. (Ages: K-2)
In this gentle, poignant story a young boy finds ways to express his questions and sorrow after a close friend dies.
When Stacy's baby sister is a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, her parents are faced with explaining the tragedy to her. The story does a competent job of anticipating the fears and concerns of a young child and of providing comfort and reassurance. Particularly well presented are the themes of jealousy upon the infant's arrival and feelings of guilt in the aftermath of her death.
With honesty, a touch of humor, and sensitive illustrations by Quentin Blake, Michael Rosen explores the experience of sadness in a way that resonates with us all. What makes Michael Rosen sad is thinking about his son, Eddie, who died suddenly at the age of eighteen. In this book the author writes about his sadness, how it affects him, and some of the things he does to cope with it—like telling himself that everyone has sad stuff (not just him) and trying every day to do something he can be proud of. This is a very personal story that speaks to everyone, from children to parents to grandparents, teachers to grief counselors. (Ages: K-9)
Death of an adult or grandparent ^top
At first, Sugar Plum cries when her mother leaves her with Mis' Lela, but the happy days they spend together make Sugar Plum want to remember her, even after she dies (Ages: 4-7)
At home after her grandmother's funeral, Marianne fondly remembers the good times she shared with her grandmother. The story helps readers understand that though Marianne's grandmother dies, her love for her grandmother will always remain. (Ages: 5-8)
A boy who is blind tells of his warm relationship with his grandmother and the gift she left for him to find in her favorite chair. (Ages: 5-8)
In sparse, poetic words and striking paintings, the story follows Sophie as she grows bigger and bigger, and her grandfather gets smaller and smaller. Though her grandfather dies, Sophie continues to love him very much. (Ages: 5-8)
In the moments after Grandmother has passed away, her spirit is at peace as she says goodbye to her sleeping family and her home (Ages: 3-7)
As little rabbit builds a snowbunny, Liplap feels something is missing and wishes his grandmother, who recently died, was with him. (Ages: 3-7)
After her beloved grandmother dies, Rosita hopes to be reunited with Abuelita as she prepares a gift to give her when her family celebrates the Day of the Dead. The story is told in both Spanish and English (Ages 5-9)
Grandpa Abe enters Sarah's life as her grandmother's boyfriend, becomes her grandfather by marriage, and enriches her life before leaving it. (Ages: 3-8)
At the wishing tree on Lunar New Year with his grandmother, Ming's wishes always seemed to come true, but one year the tree does not help, and he alone must make peace with the loss of his grandmother and the spirit of the tree. (Ages: 4-9)
Death of a parent ^top
A simple, poetic telling of Everett Anderson's feelings as he copes with and accepts the fact of his father's death. Coretta Scott King Award. NCTE Teacher's Choice. Reading Rainbow selection.
(Ages: K-2)
Michael's dad has died and the family is observing Shiva. As the days go by Michael gradually begins to come to terms with his father's death. A useful book for the surviving parent to help a child come to terms with their loss.
(Ages: K-2)
A small girl remembers the night her mother first told her that she was sick and all the days and nights that followed. The illustrations depict the relationships between the child and the adults in her life as they hug, comfort, or reassure her. The story is written in language and with familiar images that youngsters can understand; it neither evades nor minimizes the feelings that a child in this situation might have. (Ages: 4-8)
With the help of her mother and grandfather, Clare begins to adjust to life without her father, who dies in a car accident on a rainy night. The story follows the family from the day of the father's death, to the service at church, Clare's father's burial at the cemetery, and the family's continuing grief. With love and tenderness from her mother and grandfather, Clare begins to understand that her feelings of grief, sadness, loneliness and fear will ease.
(Ages: 3-6)
Death of a friend ^top
Crystal had lived in the garden for many years. She was growing old. Zelda was just starting out in life. They were best friends. But one day Crystal was not in the garden. In this gentle story, children learn, with Zelda, that true friendship is a gift that doesn't die.